Reacting Emotionally

A person asked me, “How do we react to any situation emotionally?”

I answered as follows:

Let us react moderately. People usually overreact. When they overreact, the level of sanity comes down. In a fit of anger, they commit mistakes, which they regret later.

Also, non-reaction may indicate a lack of seriousness, which means one may not deal with the situation properly. That is why moderation is so important.

One has to be cool but alert and alive to the situation, and deal with it. Through moderation, we can deal with any situation properly.

On the Spiritual Path, people often talk of Vairagya (non-attachment). Non-attachment is not throwing away everything and going after only the spiritual. There is a midway in which we respect and give importance to both the Spiritual and the Material. Non-attachment helps us prioritize.

I read a novel long ago titled ‘Lost Horizon’ by James Hilton. This novel is inspired by Shambala. He describes a place by name Shangri-La where people live happily for hundreds of years. A person visits Shangri-La and asks a monk there about the secret behind their longevity. The monk says, “We follow moderation.”

Moderation is so important. People haven’t taken it seriously. I wish you adopt the way of moderation in all aspects of your life.

Guruji Krishnananda